Hi, I'm still alive.

Also, I've transitioned to first person POV for a few other stories in first person and got in the habit of using it. I realized too late that the SCP story is supposed to be in third person.

I've proofread it as much as I can, but there might be discrepancies, a fair warning.

You can find me on a Discord server I set up. Invite link for it is: USxMSV7

From: ██████████

Subject: Moving Forward

Dear all Foundation employees,

As you may have heard, we will now be working with the Fallen Angels and the organization Grigori. We are confirming these rumors.

Some of you will be reassigned and those reassigned will be expected to work with GOC operatives. We understand that you will have concerns about our movements forward. We will say this once; in these times, new roads must be forged.

We expect the same professionalism with GOC as with your colleagues. Put aside any history and bias. The world counts on it.

Additionally, MTF teams will be reassigned, but not all teams, because we will be "treasure hunting." Do not misinterpret this phrase, we will not be wasting time. These anomalies and artifacts are hidden, and specific teams will be assigned to find these locations and items. In upcoming events and times, recovery of these items are of utmost importance.

Finally, report any Angel activities to Site Administrators and MTF leaders. They are not who they claim to be. We will send out a notice once we make contact with the real Angels. We will also send out a notice on how to identify real Angels from faux Angels.

In the next few months you will be questioning our actions, we understand it will happen, but have faith.

We will provide all teams in all sites further information shortly. Be prepared to find a new folder with details on reassignments or to continue with your current duties.

Godspeed,

The O5 Councils

(This is a system-wide email. Please do not reply.)

The sounds of weapons filled the rooms as the people all around Ethan pulled back charging handles, slapped in magazines, and attached scopes.

Sylvia had put her cap back on, turning her hair brown, as she prepared her weapon.

The sniper teams already had their weapons and were leaving, the area of the Peace Summit having been surveyed and positions marked.

The Foundation knew that they might be compromised, so the O5-Council had snipers watching their snipers and a squad defending the positions.

A force of a hundred just for overwatch.

Almost double that around the area and the same number inside the actual meeting spot.

Though of course, the Foundation did its best to stay unsuspecting, and the army at the perimeter and base of the mountain were plainclothes units.

The GOC lent its support and had their greysuits lying in wait to ambush anyone who would try to attack the snipers.

Azazel was told about the operation, and he invited his inner circle to provide supernatural support, one for each position, though some had to provide protection to overlapping locations.

Though he was informed of the operation, he was asked to feign ignorance, because he would be vital to gauging the reactions of the other two factions.

"You're Badger-Seven?" Ethan looked up to see a man with high cheekbones looking down at him.

"Yes, correct."

"Badger-Eight?" he asked Sylvia, who nodded.

"Both of you are too young," he muttered and gestured for them to follow him. "Michael's getting set up. Get all your gear and hurry."

Sylvia and Ethan made sure their weapons were functional and followed the man. Sylvia looked irked and when they were making our way down the empty hall, she said, "What do you mean, 'young'?"

"You guys look like you're barely out of college," he said.

"And?"

He cast a glance over his shoulder, "I don't know a single university student who wants to spend the rest of their lives under NDAs and life-and-death situations."

"Can't argue with that," Sylvia mumbled.

"What were you two doing before you got picked up by the Foundation? No way did you two serve in the military."

"Exorcists for the church," she replied to him.

"Exorcists, huh?" he nodded. "Remember the Foundation did bring in people like you guys. Didn't expect anyone to actually be kept after that lockdown."

The man paused then added, "So you guys just go around killing supernatural?"

"Yeah," Sylvia answered. "Pretty much."

"I see. Not much different than the GOC, then."

"Was that supposed to be poking a sore?" Sylvia asked.

"Not so much as comparison. I've seen some of your...things. Not much we could do but kill them."

Sylvia didn't answer.

The rest of the trip was silent the entire time as the man led the duo to Weinberg.

They eventually reached a large conference room with a large, round table that would normally be found in restaurants.

Weinberg turned from the table.

He approached them and said, "Ethan! Kasumi! Thanks for the help, you two."

Weinberg nodded to the man, "And the others?"

"They'll arrive soon. I have to go check on my units."

"Yeah, thanks again, Tristian." The man gave a two-finger salute and left.

He embraced Ethan and patted him on his back, before gesturing to Sylvia, "Bugged room. Be careful what you say about the plans."

They nodded.

"So, someone important is coming here, and I don't mean the leaders of the factions."

"Council member?" Ethan asked.

He scoffed, "You fucking wish. No way in hell that's ever happening. Just a middleman who will pass on the messages, and speak the terms they decided on."

"I see."

"Obviously, our job is to protect them. Of course, we need to protect everyone in this room, but their safety comes first."

"Got it," Ethan said, walking over to the window with Sylvia. They stared at the empty courtyard and Weinberg smiled.

Too coincidental that this meeting room was exposed to a wide open field, especially when the Thaumaturgists felt a ripple in the magical parts of the world.

"That Gremory group is also invited," Weinberg said. "Dunno why. I suppose that it's because the Gremory girl is the Satan's sister."

He was quiet, reading a tablet, "Sitri group too."

The rest of the team came in, "Boss!"

"Ivan," Weinberg said, recognizing the Russian accent. "My brother!"

"Glad to hear you got outta that pickle, boss."

Weinberg laughed, bumping fists and acknowledging Julia Hernandez and Frank Sosa.

"Lyynesta and Eric?"

"They're almost here, boss," Ivan said.

"Good, let's wait until they're here before I continue."

The wait took about five minutes and both ran in, panting from their run.

"Okay," Eric said. "We're here."

"Good. Want to catch your breath?"

"I'm good," Eric said.

"I'm fine," Lyynesta added.

Weinberg nodded, "Okay, so plan is we protect the...Representative, I'll call them."

"That person who is sent by the O5?" Lyynesta asked.

"That person exactly," Weinberg said. He walked over to the window, "Look outside, isn't it a beautiful view?"

He chuckled and Frank nearly asked what he meant by that when Julia whispered into his ear.

The rest of the team got the message.

"Looks great, boss," Ivan said as he looked over the edge and at the empty courtyard before meeting Weinberg's eyes, "But back on topic, yeah?"

"Right, sorry. It's been decades since I've been outside to admire scenery. Anyways, we've also got the Gremory peerage attending, and the Sitri peerage attending."

"Lotta Devils," Lyynesta said. "How about the others?"

"Michael is bringing Irina Shidou, and Azazel's bringing a man named Vali."

"Vali...who?" Eric asked.

"Vali, that's all we know. Some bodyguard, allegedly. Keep an eye on him."

"Sure thing, boss," Ivan said. "Just weird the Devil's bringing a whole team, yaknow boss? And also Vali having no name."

Weinberg smiled, "Yeah. Anywho, that's about it. Let's go greet the esteemed guests."

Everyone was filed in, and a tall, thinner woman with high cheekbones, blue observant eyes, blond hair, and a puckered face stepped inside, attracting the attention of everyone in the room.

"Good afternoon, everyone," she said in a sharp tone. "I'm glad you are all able to join us today, because this is the most vital meeting in history."

A woman in a maid's uniform walked in, and I recognized the blond hair and brown dress belonging to Maidame Curie.

Grayfia appeared to know her too, because I saw her eyes widen in shock, "Curie?! You're-"

I saw Curie wink and curtsy, "Greetings, everyone."

"Just a bodyguard," the woman deadpanned, "Supernatural bodyguards seem to be all the rage today, am I not wrong?"

The woman seemed disinterested, bored, even. "I am Eva, but you may call me Eve."

"Sirzechs Lucifer," Eve said to the red-haired man, "As the main watcher of the Underworld, you may be aware of the larger number of Demons infiltrating your territory."

"Now hold on a minute!" Sirzechs said. "This is strictly knowledge to Devils! There's no way-"

"If there wasn't such a large number of Demons escaping from the Underworld, it would have stayed among the Devils," Eve interrupted him as she clicked her pen.

She slid a thin folder towards the devil, "As of three years ago, there have been a little more than a hundred cases of Demons entering the world. The human's realm."

Eve clicked her pen again, shutting it as she tapped the table, "Casualties going up to a thousand. Not a lot of casualties, mind you, but about an average of one hundred people dying per...invasion."

Sirzechs read the reports when Eve stopped talking.

"Luckily for you, and the supernatural, the Foundation responded to the incidents rapidly, though our casualties have been up to nearly three hundred. Three too many per incident." Eve sighed as Sirzechs closed his eyes and shut the folder, "I'm not saying your work is unsatisfactory, but your current approach is inadequate with the looming threat."

He glared at the woman, but she seemed unnerved as Weinberg's team looked away.

Sirzechs nodded, "Yes, we've been bothered by the Demons for sure. It's not a good time for the Underworld."

"We can assist," Eve said.

"I need time to think about this."

She nodded, then looked to her right.

"Azazel," Eve said. He nodded. "What happened to Kokabiel?"

The man ran a hand through his thick hair and growled, "I dunno. I wish I knew, honestly. For years nothing had been out of the ordinary. He'd been compliant and contributing to the research, and been doing everything I've asked him to..."

"Then?" Eve asked. "What happened?"

Azazel said, "I told you, I. Don't. Know!"

He sighed, "I've been keeping a close eye on him, I always have."

Azazel looked at Michael, "Ever since he fell blabbering something about the Sealed G-"

"Enough," Eve said. "I want a speculation. That is all."

Azazel sighed and rubbed his temples, "Either possessed or something. Like that war that many years ago, the one he warned Father about."

"Mhm..." Michael said. "Yes, those followers. Similar symptoms. They act normal until at the beck and call of Him."

"It sounds about right," Eve said. "So you all have connected the dots, yes?"

She looked over at Rias, "May I make a request for you all to leave?"

"What?" Issei asked. "Why?"

"Because none of you have knowledge of this information. It'll put you in jeopardy and preventing widespread knowledge is exactly how we contain this entity."

"I won't allow you to throw away my peerage like that," Rias said. "They all stay."

"They will not," Eve said.

"They will."

I twitched and Sylvia looked over at me in concern.

Weinberg raised his rifle, "I'm sorry, but if you don't leave, force will be necessary."

"And why do they not need to?" Rias demanded.

"Sister..." Sirzechs began.

"These Foundation members have been containing the entity for as long as they've been employed with us. There is a specific reason we have Foundation members outside of this room and inside."

Rias scowled.

"Final time, leave."

"I think we deserve to know," Rias said.

Issei and Xenovia nodded. "We've been living our whole lives as Exorcists," the latter said, "Sylvia, Ethan, Irina, myself, and many others, and we learn that God himself was killed in a war nobody has heard of."

Issei nodded agreement, "Kokabiel nearly killed us all. Nearly killed Buchou! If Buchou was killed, what would happen to us, and our future kids!"

"Enough!" Ethan shouted.

"Silence!" Eve said sharply, "PFC Sakamoto, please."

Sylvia grabbed my hand and Eve shook her head, "Okay. Michael, what happened with the Church?"

He scowled, "What?"

"Why is the Church getting out of hand? Why are there so many Exorcists who exhibit cases similar to the Followers?

"Only very few have not, which include Sylvia Lyyneheym, now deceased, Jeanne D'Arc, Xenovia Quarta, and Irina Shidou."

She flipped through files and said, "All of these were 3rd party hires. Everyone in the Holy Sword Project, or those who did not display loyalty upon their recruitment, were filed into the Followers."

Michael looked upset and said, "I would say it's the same situation as Kokabiel, I kept watch as often as I could, but there was only so much I could do as they swept things under the rug. Do you know how many Churches there are?"

"Not wrong," Eve said, but she seemed interested in adding more. Surprisingly, Michael looked away. "What about the other Archangels?"

Heads turned.

"The only contact we have received is through you. I'm glad to hear you survived the war despite many accounts contradicting it, but where are the others?"

"You mean Gabriel and everyone?" Eve nodded. "They've been managing as many Angels as they could. So many are going mad and becoming Fallen."

"Glad you chose to report that," Eve said.

Azazel mused, "I thought it was strange our numbers almost doubled."

"And you have a comprehensive list of everyone who fell in a large number?" Eve asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Azazel said, "I thought it was strange we had no Fallen for half a decade until everyone decided it was a fad or something."

"Wait," the Archangel said, "You trust them?"

"More than I trust the Devils," Azazel laughed while Sirzechs frowned, "That's for sure."

"Even with the information they know and withhold?"

"They do share," Azazel said, while pointing at Rias's group standing directly behind Sirzechs, Sona's peerage shifting uncomfortably by the door, "It's just that we have children here, who aren't supposed to know about this!"

Azazel glared at Sirzechs, "This meeting was literally to prepare for the upcoming threat."

"Which, I feel, is already among us," the Archangel said.

He pointed and a screen appeared before us, "This is footage recovered from a university where we train exorcists, teaching them about the dangers of the supernatural."

It was footage from Kanastra University, Ethan remembered. So did all the remaining Badger Squad members.

Eve looked back at Weinberg, who was slightly surprised.

We watched from the security footage of exorcists being slaughtered, gunned down by the Foundation.

"This is what you approved, Lucifer," the Archangel said. "This university was in your territory, and you let the Foundation trample through the students and faculty."

He looked pissed at the devil, "Was this getting in your way? Did you want to get rid of us after one too many exorcists entering your territory? You hired a secret human organization to kill exorcists?"

"They asked me about this university. I told them to investigate." Sirzechs looked at the Badger Squad's leader, "What exactly was your purpose there?"

"I think Eve has a file that she was going to go over."

"Correct. Curie," Eve said. "My briefcase?"

"Of course, ma'am," Curie said and flicked a finger, a briefcase appearing from mid-air, to slide across the table to Eve.

She opened the container and brought out several test tubes an inch thick and protected by a case. Each one contained a grey liquid, tightly sealed with a unique stopper.

"This is what was found inside all the bodies of the exorcists, Michael."

"And...?"

"You can see the effects it has," Eve slid over a page to each of them, and Sirzechs passed the page over to Serafall, who was completely silent as she listened to the conversations.

Michael briefly showed Irina and Azazel handed it to Vali, the man with grey hair scoffing and flicking the page back onto the table.

Rias paled as she looked at it and refused to show her peerage.

"Did you test it on someone?" Serafall asked.

Eve looked at the young-looking devil, boring into her eyes with a stoic gaze.

Serafall looked away after standing her ground for several seconds and Eve said, "We would never do this to a person. This was the result of MTF operators and GOC operators who had come in contact with the substance during the raid."

She pursed her lips and looked at Michael, "The university was suspect of these tests. We were proven correct."

The Archangel didn't answer and while everyone waited, Eve flipped through several files. "Now, you probably suspect the purpose of this meeting."

She leaned back and said, "All of these incidents aren't isolated. We are on the brink of The Second War."

Eve pointed at Sirzechs, "Demons are rising."

Then to Azazel, "Angels are falling."

Finally to Michael, "The Exorcists are deserting."

She steepled her fingers, "We need damage control within your Factions and the Foundation will help. We just need your permission to move in."

She looked at each of the Faction leaders at the table. Serafall, Sirzechs, Michael, Azazel, Vali all stayed quiet, "And we need your help to eradicate Khaos Brigade."

"Now hold on," Azazel said. "You can't throw that name out there and expect us to know about them."

Sylvia nudged Ethan and he looked at her. She shook her head and waved her hand towards Michael, and Ethan had a bad feeling about her actions.

He thought he saw a flicker of concern from Michael.

Sylvia likely saw it, but thought better than to bring it up while the meeting was going on.

"Of course."

She slid a thick folder to each of the leaders in attendance, and held one up to Vali. He raised a hand, "No thank you. I'm aware of them."

She put it on the table without another word and spoke again, "All the necessary information is for you to read at your own discretion. I'll briefly go over them right now."

Eve put away Vali's folder, "Khaos Brigade is a terrorist organization, dabbling into Thaumaturgist territory, your territory. Based on our research, and from the attacks they pulled off with the Chaos Insurgency, we conclude that the Khaos Brigade is a branch of the CI that is specifically working for Him. His power encourages the Demons, and he got Kokabiel to utilize Valper's research to supply the Khaos Brigade with information on creation of holy swords and holy sword users."

She pursed her lips, "And other...creations with the information on SCPs that the CI has.

"They often use magic circles to teleport from location to location. However, our Thaumaturgists all around the world have never gotten any significant readings in two locations, so we are assuming they also utilize some sort of dimensional gap to travel from place to place, which is quite ingenious."

She played with a ripped piece of paper, "Which also likely explains why we haven't found their home base. Not even the GOC, who had been dealing with these terrorists for some time."

"Speaking of the GOC," Michael scowled, "Why aren't there anybody from that organization in attendance?"

Eve didn't answer as Serafall and Sirzechs looked at each other in confusion. Azazel gave Eve a questioning look and he looked at Eve.

"They're working in tandem with us, Archangel," Eve said. "Though they have struck a deal to not attend this meeting. In exchange, we provide them assistance that we wouldn't give under normal circumstances."

"Such as?"

"Classified, I'm afraid. Though you may be able to read in on some details provided you accept our proposal to work together," Eve said after flicking the ball of rolled paper away. "No promises, though."

"Ethan, Kasumi," Weinberg said, and he followed the Captain out, just as he caught radio chatter.

"We're feeling an imbalance on the sensors," he said, just as the news was relayed to the duo on the radio. He shut the door then lowered his voice.

"Captain?" Ethan asked.

"GOC was not mentioned at all in this meeting. We never said a word about them working with us. None of the heads, not even Azazel, know they are here right now."

"So..." Ethan began, but the man held up a finger.

"Not a word. Not yet. Keep an eye on him."

Weinberg continued speaking on the radio with the other MTF leaders as Ethan and Sylvia entered the room again.

"I'm sorry..." Sirzechs said. "I understand how much of a threat the Khaos Brigade is, but I can't lend any support. The Devil army is stretched thin and we need the remainder to defend the Underworld."

"It is fine," Eve said, "We're not concerned about lending us more people."

Azazel thought for a moment, "I might be able to lend some support. We have no real home, and if you are able to provide housing for the Fallen Angels..."

"It can be arranged," Eve said, "but let me repeat that we don't need you to sacrifice your population."

"Then we will lend our help. I've been seeing symptoms of Followers. If the number of Khaos Brigade is the cause, I'll help cut it down."

"Michael?" Eve asked. He shook his head.

"Do you have no consideration for the population?"

"Pardon?" Eve asked.

"These Devils are not even adults, and you're asking them to risk their lives fighting terrorists."

"That's right," Xenovia said. Issei nodded agreement.

"We're all just kids. Even if we wanted to, we can't?"

Eve looked at the two as Rias opened her mouth, "But you all have no qualms fighting runaway Devils."

Xenovia put her hands on the table, "They are a threat to our ho-Home..."

Her gaze faltered as Rias and Sona both nodded. Rias said, "Ms. Eve is right."

"Buchou!" Issei cried, but Rias shut her eyes.

"I hate to say it, but she's right. Do you not remember Freed? The spider Stray Devil? We haven't been living in a safe place for the past year. I think they'd posed a larger threat than these human terrorists."

She looked at her brother, "Brother, don't you think it's something we can help them with?"

Eve said, "Let me clarify what we need. We just need your population to stay alert for Khaos Brigade. We will consistently update them on the situation by providing who and what to look for. We don't need additional personnel."

Sirzechs shook his head, "Let me think about this for a while longer."

"As you wish," Eve said. "Now, we only require your reply, Michael."

"No."

"You realize the consequences for flat out refusing? The danger you put yourself and everyone in?"

He narrowed his eyes, "I don't trust you and your organization."

Eve sighed, "If that's the case-"

A rumble shook the building and Michael stood up, "We will be killed?"

Eve looked at Weinberg, "Will we be safe here?"

"You should be, ma'am."

"I demand answers," Michael snarled, his face twisted in a visage I never expected from an Angel. Even Serefall and Sirzechs leaned away from him.

Despite the killing intent, Eve was unfazed, "It appears we are under attack."

The cracks of gunfire from machine guns tore into the building.

"And you're unfazed," Michael said.

"The Foundation expected this attack to happen," Eve said when she looked over to Curie, who simply looked up.

"Because you orchestrated it."

Eve shook her head, "The leaders from Three Factions here in his single place. What better chance to win a war before it starts? It's a logical attack to make, we've even handed disclaimers, but I doubt you read any of it."

He sneered at her and everyone looked concerned, and more importantly, scared.

Michael stepped back and Eve calmly stood, "If you attempt to contact them to attack us, all Angels will die. I can assure you that."

"You knew this would happen."

"No," Eve said. "We suspected and planned for it. As humans, this is our leg up against the supernatural."

Michael growled and opened his wings, the white feathers shattering the windows behind him.

"You may flee," Eve said. "We won't hold it against you. But I'd like to contact the Angels for their support in this war, at least."

"Irina," Michael said and the exorcist nodded.

"All units, Honor-One is fleeing the AO, hold your fire. Break, break, all units, do not expect assistance from Angels."

Michael turned, "We won't be allying with you. Do not expect any Angels to aid your war."

Eve said nothing and Michael took off, the force of the takeoff pushing dust and hair around.

Irina followed without looking back.

"Consul-One, this is Wolfpack-TL, what about the Fallen Angels?"

Azazel answered, "This is Consul-Two, you can rely on my men and women to take part of the battle."

"What do you think, Curie?" Eve asked the maid.

Curie approached Grayfia with a smile, and she embraced the stunned Devil, much to everyone's surprise.

"Sirzechs," Curie said. "Azazel, Serafall."

"Yes?" Sirzechs replied.

"Do you remember Michael's wings?"

"Why did you ask?" Serafall said. Curie waved her hand.

"Oh nothing. Just asking. Seemed odd to me." She snapped her fingers and everyone heard several devices short circuit. "Bugs are gone, if anyone is concerned."

"We'll need to continue this conversation in private, madam," Curie said to Eve. The woman looked at the Devils in attendance and nodded. "Now, stay beside me. I'll protect you."

"This is Yeti-Three, we're in need of backup! We've lost Siren team and the TL is dead!"

"This is Omicron-3 TL, moving to your position, hang in there."

"Captain Weinberg!" Ethan looked at Michael at the call. "Get your team out here, we got several things that breached our defense. They're heading down the East hall and going for the stairs."

Weinberg said, "Badger Squad, get moving."

"Get down!" Eric shouted as something crashed into the room.

The shockwave sent people stumbling, but when their eyes adjusted, everyone was fine.

Sylvia had her hands in front of her while Curie had moved in front of the Devils by the window, holding her hand up.

She flicked her wrist and the bolt of magic was sent straight into a crowd of magicians hanging in the sky, incinerating several before exploding and sending bodies flying.

"Thank you," Azazel said. "I'll go see how I can support these troops"

Curie shook her head, "No. We need this building standing, and you're helping."

"But-"

She smiled and pecked his cheek, "There, there, no need to get so antsy. Hero Faction is out there. It'll be enough for now."

"You sure?" he said with a frown.

"Of course." She looked over at the devils, "You folks, get to safety."

"We want to help," Xenovia said.

"No, this battle is not for you guys to fight."

They began arguing when Michael nudged Ethan, "Kid."

"Right," Ethan hurried with Sylvia in tow, but Michael shook his head.

"No. Go help from the outside, they'll need it."

"But-" Sylvia began and Ethan looked at Michael then at Sylvia. "Ethan?"

"Go. You know Curie won't help, and Sirzechs will be protecting the Devils."

Sylvia clicked her tongue then nodded, "You better not get yourself killed."

He nodded and she handed him her rifle, "Thanks."

"Go."

She turned around as Michael put his finger to his ear, "Security team, what's the status?"

"They're up the stairs now. Going your way. Look like SCP-173 except with one blinking eye. Can't miss them."

They all waited, "Security team?"

"Captain! Open fire!" I flinched at the shout. "You can only see them from the footage!"

When the team leader downstairs shouted, the whole team had already began raising their weapons. Weinberg didn't even need to speak when the guns went off, and blood sprayed the walls as the running creatures fell.

"Captain," the security team said, "One is against the wall on the right."

He sprayed across the walls.

"Downed."

Weinberg reloaded and said, "How many more?"

"Two more. Right down the middle and one on the right wall, underneath that painting."

Two bursts dropped the final two anomalies, the earpieces saving our hearing.

"How's downstairs?" Weinberg asked.

"Tristian is going to need a med-evac," someone replied. "Two more casualties on top of that."

Weinberg grunted, "Come on. Let's clear this place out."

Sylvia almost ran out of the window when Curie called her name, "Sylvia!"

"'Sylvia?'" Rias asked, looking over at Curie.

Sylvia took off her cap and flicked it at Curie, who caught it. The woman smiled and tucked it into a pocket on her apron.

"You're alive?" Xenovia asked in shock.

"I know," she responded, "I'm shocked too."

"How?"

Sylvia opened her wings, two pairs of pure white, and looked at Curie, "Can I go?"

"Don't overwork yourself, alright? I know you're no longer human, but there are still limits to your power."

She nodded and Curie turned to the remaining members, "Sirzechs, Grayfia, Serafall, Azazel. This building needs to be protected. Can't have this whole place collapsing on the Foundation now, can we?"

Sirzechs sighed and said, "Alright, fine."

Azazel chuckled, "No wonder why you said it'll be enough. She's here. Now...I wonder how exactly this battle will go."

Curie curtsied, "It'll go well. I didn't train Sylvia to fail, anyways."

"Damn right," she muttered under her breath, then took off.

"This is Badger-Eight," Sylvia said, "How many Angels in the AO?"

"Only you, Badger-Eight," one person replied, but she didn't know who. "All are gone."

"Shit," she said to herself as she looked down on the field, before looking for the overwatch teams, "How many of you need support?"

"Overwatch-Two, this is the TL, we need it badly! I see you, at your six!" Sylvia turned and saw several magicians firing at the building. She didn't bother with theatrics and summoned a dozen swords, sending them to the magicians.

Infused with magic, they didn't fall apart traveling at mach speed, the weapons stopped instantly upon impaling the magicians.

"Badger-Eight, sending freight your way, don't move." Sylvia stood still and several bullets flew past her, disintegrating the magicians sneaking up behind her, "All clear."

"Thanks," she said into the mic.

"A pleasure."

She turned and snapped her fingers, pointing at a cluster of mages and watched the ball explode into lingering flames that ate away at their clothes and flesh.

Several began putting out the flames, but Sylvia simply sent a sword through their chests, before gesturing at a handful of mages, swinging them into another group, breaking the magic circles keeping them in the air and sending them plummeting to their deaths.

Sylvia dove lower to let the overwatch team gather their bearings, and decapitated a mage before blocking a strike from a mutated swordsman.

"The fuck?"

The head rolled from a cut and two holy swords slammed into its torso.

The sword vanished and Sylvia kicked the body away.

"Yup, this is what we've been fighting on the frontlines for a bit," she heard a high-pitched, smug voice announce.

"Jeanne."

"Hey there. I see you're no longer human," she pointed out.

Sylvia's wing twitched and she turned to snap the legs out from under a creature, before splitting it in half.

"Yeah."

"Anyway, we're supposed to protect this building," Jeanne said. "If that representative dies, all of us will be in a whole lot of hurt."

"Go figure," Sylvia said.

"Let's see who can kill more," Jeanne said with a grin and immediately ran towards a group of swordsmen, cleaving several with two swords in her hands.

She was followed by a mess of blades creating a deadly field behind her, impaling any swordsmen who survived her onslaught of cuts.

Sylvia flapped her wings and took off after the fighter, sending streaks of lightning from her fingertips into the bodies of swordsmen, electrocuting many before being cut or impaled by Jeanne.

"Ha!" Sylvia didn't look at the woman fighting beside her when she spoke, "How many was that now? Fifty to thirty-two?"

Sylvia sighed, "Jeanne-"

"Oh, don't give me that now that you're losing!"

She couldn't help but smile and stole a sword from Jeanne's field of blades, "I'll borrow this."

Jeanne looked over then looked back ahead, "Go for it."

With a gesture, a pillar of swords ripped apart the swordsman gathering around in front of Jeanne and she snapped her fingers to make it vanish.

"How many was that now?"

Sylvia shook her head and cut through the neck of a swordsman, before catching bolts of magic and sending them back at their casters, incinerating dozens of mages at once.

Jeanne turned and skipped backwards, "Oh wow, I never knew you could do this."

She smiled, "Never had the mana to do so, not as a human."

"Oooh," Jeanne nodded, "So you got yourself killed to be an Angel to use this power?"

"No!" Sylvia shouted. "I really died."

"Oh," Jeanne looked shocked and stabbed a mage in the eye before looking back at Sylvia, "How?"

"I got careless."

"Ahh..." Jeanne skipped back and said, "Well, now that I see you like this, explains why Cao-kun wanted you in the GOC."

She smirked, "When you were human, that is."

"Never joining."

"Why not?"

Sylvia shook her head, "You won't get it."

Jeanne pouted and turned back to the wave of enemies, "This is getting boring, you know?"

She smiled, "Wonder when the bigshots are going to come out?"

Sylvia looked around and put a hand to her temple, "Shit..."

"What is it?"

"This is Badger-Eight, something's coming through the magic circle!" Whatever was tunneling through the gap to the magic circle, it was making her nauseous, and the last time that happened, it was something that took Team Helious hours to kill.

"Rog, Badger-Eight. Thaumaturgists got the disturbance. We're readying air support."

"Don't," Sylvia said.

"This isn't your call to make, Badger-Eight."

"No, I don't think conventional weapons will affect this thing." She looked over her shoulder to see Jeanne covering her. "Give us some time, I'll ask for support if we can't take it down."

She heard silence on the other end.

"Rog, Badger-Eight. Don't let us down."

Sylvia looked over her shoulder, "Jeanne, to the magic circle!"

"Right!" They began sprinting, but Sylvia stopped when she saw several magicians fire down at her.

Jeanne had stopped earlier and sent swords into the air. Sylvia gestured, and the swords immediately picked up speed, flying into several magicians before disappearing into shards of light.

"How many are there?" she asked herself, just as she heard an unearthly screech come from the middle of nowhere. "Where's that from?"

"This is Thaumaturgist team Merlin, there's something coming through the portal now."

Sylvia looked up and tendrils of darkness snapped out from the circle, piercing the chests of the remaining magicians, before ripping through MTF members out in the open. The mic in her ear exploded with screams about casualties, and Sylvia interrupted as the calls got cut off and redirected.

"This is Badger-Eight, ordering all units to take cover!" Sylvia shouted as she deflected several strikes before putting up a barrier between herself and Jeanne and the tendrils.

"Wow," a voice said, "This'll be interesting."

Sylvia heard someone pop their knuckles and looked over to see Vali fly out from the building, a scaled, white armor covering his entire body save for the head. "Balance Break."

Immediately after he muttered the phrase, a helmet covered his face just as he caught a tendril and yanked on it, before releasing the appendage.

"How are the others?" Sylvia shouted.

"Alive," he replied casually. "Left the building to take care of the magicians. Explains why you probably saw a lot less of these pathetic magicians. Same with me. Now I'm here to help."

A shadow came down above them and Vali looked up before disappearing in a flash of light.

Sylvia looked up to see a foot the size of a room come down on top of her and Jeanne, the latter leaping back and out of the barrier. Sylvia cursed and dispelled the barrier before flying up and punching the foot, stopping it.

She heard a roar and the foot lifted. Sylvia flew out of the way as Jeanne ran to safety.

"Not bad," Vali said when he descended behind her.

"Could have given a warning," Sylvia scowled. He only shrugged. The foot crashed onto the ground, kicking up dirt. A face lowered level to Vali and Sylvia and she looked away when she recognized the eyes of Medusa.

The eyes of a snake, but with iris as grey as stone. "Vali!" Sylvia shouted and he twitched, before dodging a tongue, which managed to nick his armor as he flew back.

"Damn, those are Medusa's eyes," he muttered.

"How are you not petrified?" Sylvia asked.

"I was," he muttered, "But I moved in time."

"You mean I saved your ass," Sylvia said. He grunted and didn't acknowledge the fact.

He spat and she swore his saliva was cement.

"It's a slow petrification," Vali said. "Just don't stare too long."

"Command, you getting the feed?" Sylvia asked.

"We do," she heard the response. "Why is it not moving?"

The eyes moved and Sylvia felt herself freeze in place, but Vali shouted at her and flew away. Sylvia turned, but felt something immediately strike her neck. She shouted and flew into the building, along with Vali.

"This is Overwatch-Two, confirming our weapons have had no effect. Repeat, no effect. Hasn't noticed us up here, so we're retreating until further orders."

Sylvia rolled over and stared at the creature on four legs four stories tall, maybe five. "Roger, thanks for intel."

She coughed and spat out blood, feeling rocks in her mouth.

"Do you think the Divine Divide would work on that thing?" Vali mused as he stood, keeping an eye on the creature as it turned and rammed its horns into the building.

It hit a barrier that held firm, but Sylvia could feel the barrier weaken in that single attack, even when lying against a separate wing of the building.

"Maybe go for the eyes?" Sylvia asked, as she saw Vali think.

"I can't hit those myself, but what do you think you can do?"

"I can help."

Sylvia looked up to see Cao Cao seated on a window sill, his arms hung over his spear, which was seated on his shoulders, and behind his neck, "Georg and I came here to help when we heard this thing."

He smiled as he watched the creature shudder in anger.

"Wasn't there an SCP who couldn't move while you were looking at it?"

"Now," Vali said, "why would they do that?"

"Probably because this thing has more powers than we know of," Sylvia said, getting up. "Georg, what can you do?"

"I can create a diversion for you, if you'd like, milady."

She remembered that their history stemmed from similar backgrounds, "You may call me Sylvia. No formalities, I'm not in the family anymore."

He hopped off the ledge beside Cao Cao, "Should we destroy the gate, first?"

Sylvia looked up at the shining magic circle, "Yes. Vali, Georg, think you two can handle that?"

"Of course."

"Mhm."

"Cao Cao," Sylvia said. "Try to cripple it, I'll go for its head."

"Shouldn't we attack together?"

"No, keep an eye on it. I don't know how fast it can move. I'll look for Jeanne, dunno where she ran off to."

Sylvia took off, and hovered above the head as Vali and Georg pelted the magic circle with attacks.

The hairs on her head stood up when the lightning streaked nearby and she scanned her eyes across the hunched figure, avoiding the low growl as the grey eyes locked in on her.

A dark shape flew at her and she twisted, feeling the thing's tongue cut her cheek.

She felt a slow burn and cursed, but the pain faded away shortly after.

Sylvia drew her hand away from the wound just as the tail swatted her out of the sky, sending her into a room.

She groaned as the creature howled and crashed into the barrier protecting the building again.

"Fucking Cao Cao, you had one job," she said as she pulled shards of glass from her arms, before concentrating and yanking them out all at once and flying out of the room.

Jeanne was jogging around the creature, watching the thing as she saw the thing holding up a bloody leg.

Sylvia flew up again and watched the eyes track her before sending them right into the orbits.

It shut its eyes in time, but with the width of the swords, it pierced the corneas, causing the thing to shriek, the noise nearly blowing out her eardrums. The magic circle above the area fractured and shattered from the creature's shriek. At that exact moment, dozens of magic circles appeared above the creature when Georg went all-out.

When it fell back on its haunches from the barrage, Sylvia sighed, only to fly into a random direction when she heard something flying at her. A sword nearly impaled her, and it was Jeanne's weapon.

She looked down to see Jeanne on a knee and a grey-haired figure over her.

Sylvia dove and to avoid losing an arm, Siegfried let go of Jeanne and jumped back.

Sylvia summoned a sword and pointed it at Siegfried, who looked up at the roaring creature, flailing at Cao Cao, Vali, and Georg.

"I told those idiots that the speed wasn't worth the weakness."

"SCP-173, no wonder why," Sylvia said. Siegfried scrunched his nose up in disgust. "How much data did you steal?"

"As much as I was allowed to access," Siegfried said. "Which...wasn't much. Khaos Brigade spent so much time on this abomination, shoving as many abilities as possible, thinking that it would be effective. They never counted on people like you who refused to run from it."

He raised his four arms, each holding a sword, "I guess I have to deal with you myself."

"Why'd you join Khaos Brigade?" Sylvia asked, seeing that he held Excalibur Ruler, and the three others that were missing. "You're Kincaid, aren't you?"

"How'd you know?" He looked surprised, then his eyes narrowed, "Where is Freed?"

"Why did you join Khaos Brigade?"

He smiled, "Some answers are best left unsaid. Now, what happened to Freed?"

Sylvia controlled her breathing, then said, "Dead."

"I see," he said, and vanished, appearing at her side to slice through her, but she found herself thanking the enhanced eyesight from the supernatural.

She sidestepped then dove in close, twisting the sword out of his grasp and breathing flames into his face to get him to drop the rest.

Sylvia gathered the swords and began leaping out of range once she picked them up.

"Damn it," he said, shaking his hand as Sylvia quickly looked at the swords in her hand.

"Sylvia, Badger-Eight, jump high."

She recognized the voice and did so, Siegfried looking up at her as two shots went off in rapid succession.

Siegfried stumbled back, and she saw Ethan slapping the barrel of a shotgun down to reload it as the former exorcist somehow stayed standing.

"Sieg," Ethan said. "Surrender."

Siegfried glared at Sylvia, but she didn't flinch. There was a reason why Curie said he wasn't likely to win against her now that she was an Angel.

The man glared at the duo and said, "If you think I'm turning myself in, you're insane."

"Sylvia, disable him for me," Ethan said.

She approached, but moved back when Siegfried grabbed a sword from mid-air. Ethan pushed her aside and fired at Seigfried's chest, emptying both barrels as the man sat back hard.

Her ears rang and Ethan pulled out a plug from his right ear, "Sorry."

"It's fine. I would have survived anyways," Sykvia said.

He nodded, "Tunnel vision."

She looked up at Vali, who seemed to be waiting for something, and she handed the swords to Ethan, "Give these to Weinberg. I think the Foundation would want them."

"Right?" he laughed and wiped the blood going down his face, which Sylvia barely noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing much, just scrapes and stuff," Edhan said, "Almost everyone made it through. Frank and Julia both got killed."

"Damn."

He nodded assent as Sylvia cupped his face, "At least you made it."

He smiled sadly, "Yeah..."

"Red Dragon Emperor," Vali announced. Sylvia and Ethan looked up to see Rias's peerage flying towards the field. "Late."

"No thanks to you!" Issei shouted, carrying Xenovia on his back. "If you didn't leave us, we would have been done much faster!"

"What happened to them?" Sylvia asked.

"More mages, from what Curie said," Ethan answered.

"These guys all went to handle them, but when that thing," he pointed to the dead monster, "came in, Vali flew this way almost immediately, I guess."

"Xenovia almost died!" Issei shouted up at the man as Koneko took her off his shoulders. Issei raised a fist in defiance, but Vali wasn't fazed.

"If you were stronger, she wouldn't have encountered that unfortunate incident."

"Why you little-"

"But too bad you're too weak," Vali shouted with a laugh. Issei shook in anger, "Maybe I should just finish the job the magicians couldn't do."

"You bastard!" Issei shouted and Vali laughed, before diving down at Koneko.

Sylvia saw him tuck his wings and she dashed ahead, leaving Ethan far behind to intercept the rogue dragon.

The connecting strikes kicked up clothes and hair.

"What are you doing?" Sylvia grunted behind the magic circle.

"Giving the Red Dragon Emperor some motivation," Vali said. "You heard that bluster he spews? Harem King? Strongest Devil."

He chuckled, "Don't make me laugh. This sub-human had to give up an arm and he can't even use his Balance Breaker right."

"You fucker!" Issei shouted, but was easily knocked off his feet by the armored warrior.

"Look at that. Pathetic. Many people can get so much stronger with a motive. Especially vengeance."

Sylvia summoned several weapons and launched them at Vali, who took off and avoided the attacks. Sirzechs and Azazel landed beside her and checked on the peerage.

Issei grunted as he stood up, "Coward, running from the fight!"

Vali wasn't deterred, "So I plan on giving him that motive."

"Why?" Sylvia asked. "Just to fight?"

"Of course. The Vanishing Dragon incarnate and the Welsh Dragon incarnate always fight to the death."

Sylvia shook her head, "What's the purpose? Why now? Worry about that later, once this whole threat is gone."

He chuckled, waving his hand around, "The threats are gone. Magicians slain, Abomination slain, and the disaster diverted."

His eyes glinted with malice, "I just need to show this wimp that he needs to step up his game."

Vali pondered, "Maybe I can attack his parents, and kill them when I toss this boy aside."

"Vali!" Sylvia shouted as the man began flying away, but before she could move, a pressure took her off-guard and brought her to her knees, along with everyone nearby.

"Don't you dare you fucking cocksucker!"

[Balance Breaker]

She felt Issei's power increase exponentially and she heard Vali laugh to himself.

"My, to think I know your powers better than yourself."

"Shutupshutupshutupshutup!" Issei screamed and took off, trailing behind red energy Sylvia had to neutralize.

"Iseei!" Rias shouted, but Sirzechs caught her arm. "Let go of me!"

"Get too close to that, and you will die."

"Ooo, nice work, catching that," Curie commented as she grabbed hold of the energy with her bare hands. "Would have been catastrophic to have the weaker Devils here die to it."

Sirzechs and Azazel stared at her as she held the power in her hands, before the red color blinked out. She put her hands behind her as she looked at Sylvia, "Interesting energy, the Balance Breaker is."

She looked up, "Too bad the boy doesn't understand how to use it."

She looked at Rias and Sirzechs, "Will the Devils still retreat to the Underworld?"

Sirzechs scowled, "We will."

"Shame. Train him hard, then," Curie said. "Demons are a good way to train oneself."

{Divide}

"And the Welsh Dragon loses," Curie said.

"How can you say that so confidently?" Rias demanded.

"It's the truth," Curie said, then watched Issei crash into the ground, his armor shattering on impact.

The dust flew their way, but Curie brushed her hand aside and the dust flew to the right and away from everyone.

Vali landed in front of Issei and laughed, "See? Look at this. I haven't broken a sweat, and here you are, ready to die."

"Bastard...as long as I can get up," Vali watched him stand, "I will defeat you!"

Sylvia caught Vali's clawed hand and Rias quickly brought Issei out of harm's way.

"Let them go." Vali scoffed at her command. "Try again, and I'll fight you myself."

He pulled his arm back and took off, and Sylvia lepat back as lightning struck the area where she stood.

"I might get a more enjoyable fight out of you."

She flew into the air, and made several swords materialize, sending them at Vali.

{Divide}

They grew smaller and Sylvia cursed, diving down to intercept Vali before he could kill Issei.

She dodged a punch and grabbed his arm, before twisting behind him and throwing him into the ground.

{Divide}

She slammed a fist into his helmet and he cursed, kicking her off after she punched a second time.

{This one is dangerous, Vali.}

"I figured," Vali said as he raised a hand to his helmet, almost wiping the blood behind his armor.

Sylvia exhaled and watched his movements, but his interest in Issei was long lost.

He moved so quickly, she couldn't track him and he sent a fist coated in lightning into her stomach. She flew back, but fluttered her wings to right herself and put both hands onto his armor, channeling mana into her palms and forcing an explosion.

Vali screamed and Sylvia didn't let up, flying right at him and hammering away at the armor.

He caught her arm and twisted her, before chopping down on her neck, stunning her.

{Divide}

But she twitched and forced herself to move, yanking her arm down and dragging him along with it. Sylvia slammed her forehead into the helmet again, sending blood flying as she broke the headpiece.

Vali recovered and brought up a knee, which she absorbed with her thigh, before letting go when electricity raced across the skies and gathered around his gauntlets. He released the absorbed energy, sending it straight to her. Sylvia dodged, knowing full well she couldn't take the hit.

Using the opening, Vali covered the distance and kicked her down, but she recovered quickly and twisted mid-air to circle around him, then remembered Curie's words, "Too bad the boy doesn't understand how to use it."

The Balance Break form of the Boosted Gear increases the user's power. Sylvia's mana pool was extremely similar, except she had much more limited use. It took a second of concentration, but now she was covered in the red aura that Issei was covered in during his Balance Break form, catching Vali off guard.

{That energy, how?}

"Wha-"

Her fist connected with his stomach before he could finish the sentence, fracturing the plates.

{Divide}

Her power faded, but it didn't matter, the damage was done. Taking the advantage, she flew upwards and rained down various bolts of magic, freezing the air while electrifying it. Vali grunted when he was covered in water from a wave, which was ionized by the lightning. He broke free of the ice and sent the elements flying, before dashing at Sylvia again, who covered her arm in a pulsing, dark aura.

{Vali, dodge!}

He dove as the arm covered in Power of Destruction missed him, and Sylvia dispelled the magic before diving down to chase after Vali. He blocked a kick, and snapped her head to the side with a punch as the gauntlet shined.

{Divide}

Sylvia put her hand on his helmet and growled, calling on the Power of Destruction, and forcing it to combust as soon as it formed.

The explosion sent the two of them flying, Vali towards the ground and Sylvia higher up. She righted herself then shook her head, diving again, grabbing the collar of Vali's armor as he was getting off the ground.

"You made a mistake fighting me," Sylvia said, panting. "There are people out there who spent their lives relying on their own strength."

"Don't need to play tough, I can see I've still tired you out." Vali scowled, "My biggest mistake was underestimating you. It cost me. Just how much power can you store?"

Sylvia stayed quiet.

"I nearly maxed out on the first Divide. That isn't normal."

She raised a hand and summoned a dagger, and Vali's eyes widened, "Is that-"

"Coated in Samuel's blood? Yes. Any half-assed magician knows to keep some on hand against dragons," Sylvia said. "Thinking about it now, I should have done this first thing against you."

{Divide}

The dagger shattered and Sylvia summoned a second one, slamming the butt of the weapon on his nose. "Dispel the armor, I'm not tired enough to give up if you keep Dividing."

He kept his eye on the tip of the weapon, "Where-"

"Dispel the armor," Sylvia said bluntly.

Sylvia jerked to the right when she heard something shatter above her.

She raised her arms, deflecting several strikes, feeling the quarterstaff nearly break her bones.

"Well, I came just in time," a cheerful voice said. "And that wasn't a fluke, either. This charming lady is as strong as she appears."

Sylvia dematerialized the dagger and scowled at the newcomer.

"Bikou," Sirzechs said. "Are you working with Khaos Brigade too?"

"Not exactly," Bikou said with a flashy grin, "I work with my good pal Vali, who happens to be working for Khaos Brigade."

"I never told them that," Vali said.

"Oops," Bikou said with a shrug, "Well...looks like the Lucifer had it figured out anyways."

"Hmm," Vali grunted then said, "We should leave."

"Oh yeah, we should. Kuroka's waiting for us to go after the Northern Gods."

"Wait, did you say Kuroka?" Koneko called.

"Yeah," Bikou said, glancing her way. "Good thing I came personally. You would have died."

Vali grunted again as Bikou waved at the group.

"Until next time, compadres."

"Wait!" Koneko shouted, nearly dropping Xenovia.

"I won't let you get away," Sylvia said, rushing at him, but Bikou expertly blocked her attacks, sweeping his quarterstaff under her feet.

She jumped up and kicked at him, but he slowed the strike and ducked under her leg, "Ooo, quite a view under there, young lady."

She didn't let it get to her and pressed the offense, but Vali recovered and lunged. Sylvia jumped back, stopping a hit from his jagged claws. Vali retreated as Bikou slammed his staff on the floor, "We'll finish this later."

Sylvia reprimanded herself at falling to the distraction Vali made, but they were already gone.

"Fuck!"

Sirzechs laid a hand on her shoulder, "It's fine. You've done more than enough today."

Sylvia nodded and said, "Almost had a perfect operation too."

He chuckled, "Yes, we did."

Azazel put a hand to his ear, listening, before looking at Sirzechs, "Hey, Sirzechs."

"Yes?"

"Eve told me to let you know the meeting's not done yet. We still have a few things to go over."

"Like?" Sirzechs said, seeing Sona and Serafall flying towards them. "How's the city?"

"It's safe," Serafall sighed. "Luckily they sent their best forces up here."

"Good. The Foundation wants to continue the meeting."

"Figured," Serafall said, then turned to Rias and Sona, "Treat the injured. I'm sure there are many of them."

"But-" Issei began, stopped by Sirzech's glare.

"Go."

Rias and Sona nodded, then they teleported away.

Ethan ran over, his hands empty, "You got the call from Eve?"

Sirzechs nodded.

"Okay, nice. They wanted me to make sure," Ethan said. "Excaliburs are safe now. We've sent decoy vehicles out with holy weapons sealed in boxes, so hopefully the Khaos Brigade and their allies end up tracking and attacking the decoy facilities."

Sirzechs raised an eyebrow, "So quickly?"

"We...have to appear desperate to store them. They'll underestimate us. It's our biggest advantage." The Devil smiled at the subterfuge. Ethan said, "If you'd like, Eve wouldn't mind letting you see them."

"Sure. Wouldn't hurt."

"Also, you sure you want to stay out of the war?"

"If you guys can find and make contact with the real Angels, I'll join the war."

"Will you?" Ethan asked.

"Yes."

"Okay," he looked relieved. "Tell that to Eve, though. I'm just a grunt here."

Sirzechs nodded and Ethan held out his hand to Sylvia, who took it and leaned against him, "Nice work out there."

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Whole thing couldn't be done without you."

"I don't think so. Everyone helped, even Vali."

He nodded.

"Cao Cao and Jeanne?"

"Jeanne...she'll be out of commission for a while. Sieg broke her leg and arm, and a few ribs. Cao Cao, he's taken her back to GOC headquarters for treatment."

"Why didn't the GOC join?"

"They weren't interested in the meeting itself," he said. "They helped a lot, though. The reason we held up so well was because of them. The building was guarded by experimental GOC operators, and they covered the north side of the area with those orange mechs of theirs."

"Orange mechs?" Azazel asked.

"Yeah, something like that. It's mostly classified, but I know you don't want to be on the receiving end of it. Not even as a supernatural."

Sylvia laughed and said, "Glad to hear."

"You look like you're about to pass out," Ethan commented.

"Maybe," Sylvia replied, and felt herself slip into blissful darkness.

[The following log requires Level 4 Access required - Enter Credentials:]

- Access Granted -

Sylvia turned when she heard soft footsteps, "Sirzechs?"

"I wanted a word with you."

"Oh," she frowned then nodded, "Now?"

"Here is fine." He looked to the right then at her, "How are you able to use the Power of Destruction?"

His question left Sylvia confused for a moment. "Oh, during my fight with Vali, right?"

He nodded grimly, "You aren't in the Gremory family, much less chosen for inheritance."

"It's a bit complicated," Sylvia said. "It's more of a...conjured magic of how I think it works."

He frowned, clearly puzzled.

"My family is considered among unparalleled in magic because of how versatile we are," Sylvia said. "You probably heard of Georg."

"I have. Both you and him have claimed the titles as 'Strongest Magicians' several times."

She nodded, "There's a reason for that, that being our innate ability to copy other's magic."

"Especially after a glance," Sirzechs said with a raised eyebrow, "To think you can simply use Boosted Gear's Balance Break."

"Just remember it's mostly imitation," Sylvia smiled, "I could create something as unique as your Power of Destruction or the Divine Dividing's Divide, but I'd need months, maybe a couple of years."

"Still," he said. "If you can recreate it...it'll be a highly impressive feat."

"Only achievable now that I'm reincarnated as an Angel."

"Speaking of Angels, you were reincarnated by 'Michael,' weren't you?" Sirzechs asked.

"Yeah, I was. What about it?"

"Aren't you worried about him subtly influencing your decisions?"

Sylvia bit her lip, then looked up, "Yeah. A little afraid. But I have seen a few of his Angels, and they aren't...normal. Irina, Calreth, and I are few of the Angels who are normal."

"What constitutes as normal?"

"Independent thought," Sylvia said. "That's the first condition. Some of his other Angels don't seem to have such freedom. And their powers..."

She blinked, remembering watching a few Angels training, "There's something off about those powers. I don't think Angels should have those."

[Redacted]

- End Log -

A/N: I skipped a couple of chapters, only because I felt it would drag on the story needlessly. Especially when I've been gone for a few months. Maybe I'll release it in my "Declassified SCP" side-stories, but who knows. Now we're moving forward with the war, expect some new SCPs and locations. Going to be a wild ride jumping from place to place, finding all the things needed to stop SCP-2440.

Reviews:

doomqwer: Thank you for your continuous support :)

TheOrangeLord: I can't promise to bring in Dr. Bright's list. It's not exactly linked to this story. But I will try to.

SCP List:

I'll be updating the list in the "Declassified Files" story. I'll most likely have it updated before the next chapter begins.